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  • National Building Museum’s Interactive Playground Experience Opens July 3
Playground at National Building Museum
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National Building Museum’s Interactive Playground Experience Opens July 3

Guests can embrace their inner child at the new installation in the Great Hall.

By Maggie Roth July 1, 2026 at 10:08 am

The National Building Museum is welcoming a new installation that invites guests to climb, build, and explore in the Great Hall. The Playground, a new immersive exhibition dedicated to “the joy of play,” kicks off July 3 and remains open until August 30.

This installation aims to present an “awe-inspiring, nontraditional environment centered on the mental and physical benefits of play,” according to its website. It will feature nine different activation areas that encourage “open-ended exploration and play.” 

“Playgrounds are where so many of us first experience creativity, exploration, independence, and community,” said Aileen Fuchs, president and executive director of the National Building Museum. “As the nation prepares to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, The Playground is a reminder of the important role public spaces play in bringing people together.”   

The Playground at The National Building Museum (Photo by Noah Kalina)

In addition to the installation, the museum will host public programs throughout the summer. These include Late Nights with music, food, and drinks; story times; and hands-on workshops. A few upcoming events include Late Night: In Color on July 9, STEAM Saturdays: Slides on July 11, and Maker’s Workshop: Color as a Building Block on July 18.

The Playground is a collaboration between the museum and New York–based design firm Snarkitecture — the same company behind the museum’s previous The Beach and Fun House installations.  

The museum is open Thursdays through Mondays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets for the museum and The Playground are $19 for adults; $16 for kids, seniors, and students; and free for children under 1. 

Feature rendering courtesy Snarkitecture

Maggie Roth

Maggie Roth

Associate Editor

Maggie Roth is the associate editor for Northern Virginia Magazine, where she covers news and culture in the NoVA area. Originally from New Jersey, she is a graduate of George Mason University and joined the magazine in 2021 as an editorial intern.

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